Realising a Dream - 16 - Superstructure

Discussion in 'How to' started by Jim Freight, Sep 16, 2021.

  1. Jim Freight

    Jim Freight Full Member

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    The basic, base framework (part 12) was to set the height of the main baseboards but a change of view developed as I do not believe in the earth being flat in 1:1 or 1:76 so another level was built and the mainline was implemented as a folded 8 as described in article 15.

    The superstructure did not need to be as substantial as the base framework which minimised the amount of legs, freed up a lot of usable floor space for storage and eliminated the time required to be skilled at carpentry which I am certainly not.

    Although the main baseboards and base framework were built with new structural timber just about everything else reuses materials from the garage. I have always been a believer in re-use and re-cycling long before it became fashionable and now that it is a planet health related necessity.

    The position of the areas referred to in this article are shown in image 1.

    1Boards 60%.jpg

    Mainboard Superstructure

    The superstructure made use of what I had to hand from a recently demolished 30ft by 10ft garage which was lined out in a much simpler way to the current shed. The heavy timber used for internal corner posts and angle iron recovered from the roof framework was invaluable for this purpose.

    As can be seen in the first image heavy timber is laid on its side, anchored by metal brackets, archways were cut for the track to pass through and notches made on top to take the angle iron. The horizontal thickness of the angle iron was accommodated by 3mm hard board strips as opposed to cutting wide notches in the timber.

    The baseboards were screwed to the wood supports which also clamps the angle iron in place saving the need to drill them.

    Overall layout development was leading to a level below the base framework which would be situated in the centre of the railway room on the island, the descent to this had to start at this level. This can be seen as a single track ramp starting from the middle of image 2.

    2DSCF1472.JPG

    To avoid sudden transitions the lower main board was slit either side of this ramp so that it would curve from level to the grade. The right hand end of the slits (the start of the grade) were terminated with drilled holes to act as a stress relief to prevent the wood splitting beyond the end of the slits.

    Images 2 above and 3 below show the style of the superstructure supporting the marshalling yard sidings.

    3DSCF1476.JPG

    Further main board superstructure views can be seen in the background of images 4 and 5.


    Industrial Branch Superstructure

    As the industrial branch line peels off from the main board it is carried by the peninsular framework and joins up to the upper island board.

    The peninsular framework effectively carries three layers.

    1) On the level, the motor works yard, the grade climbing to the heavy engineering works yard entrance and yard, then onwards to the cement works on the upper island board.

    2) The port branch grade between the lower main board and the lower island board.

    3) At the bottom the general merchandise docks which are part of the lower island board docks.

    The multiple levels and grade on the peninsular proved a challenge and is made possible with a superstructure built as a cantilever, each one contoured to suit the two works yards and the single track grade.

    Images 4 and 5 show the cantilevers that support the heavy electrical engineering works and the Minix Motor Works.

    4DSCF1585.JPG

    5DSCF1586.JPG


    Images 6 to 8 show the same areas as images 4 & 5 but as it is now, almost finished.

    6DSCF0679.JPG

    7DSCF0680.JPG

    8DSCF0681.JPG

    Next, the descent of the harbour branch to the docks

    Jim.

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    Last edited: Jun 3, 2023
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  2. ianvolvo46

    ianvolvo46 Staff Member Moderator

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    :faint:nuff said ......

    Ian vt
     
  3. Jim Freight

    Jim Freight Full Member

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    Many a :headbanger: moment :avatar:
     

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